Casino debate roiled by tribe spokesman's rape record, lies about military service

Friday

Aug 24, 2007 at 12:01 AMAug 24, 2007 at 1:35 PM

Shock waves rippled through the Mashpee Wampanoags and the town of Middleboro Friday in the wake of reports the Tribal Council chairman was a convicted rapist and lied about his military record.

By Alice C. Elwell

Shock waves rippled through the Mashpee Wampanoags and the town of Middleboro Friday in the wake of reports the Tribal Council chairman was a convicted rapist and lied about his military record.

Many tribe members did not want to comment until they absorbed the news, but Tribal Chief Vernon "Silent Drum" Lopez said he was caught unaware.

"This was a surprise to me, I haven't made up my mind on anything," he said.

After the news spread about Tribal Council Chairman Glenn Marshall, he stepped down, at least temporarily, and turned over tribal duties to Vice Chairman Shawn W. Hendricks Sr. But Mar shall may keep his title of chairman to the council.

"I have my own demons that I need to deal with," he said in a prepared statement.

A dig into his past turned up a 25-year-old rape conviction and exaggerations of his military record. "Like others who were part of the war, the years that followed my service are not something I'm proud of. I am proud of the rehabilitation and turnaround in my life following those years, and am proud of what the tribe has accomplished. I am sorry to have distorted my record and to allow it to stand uncorrected," Marshal said in a written statement.

Published reports revealed Marshall served time for the 1981 rape conviction in Concord State Prison. He was sentenced to five years, but was released on probation within a few months.

"The conviction is part of public record," said tribe spokesman Scott M. Ferson.

The Mashpee Wampanoags plan to put a Mohegan Sun-style casino off Route 44 in Middleboro. The Indian-run facility would be the first casino in Massachusetts.

Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to disclose by around Labor Day whether or not his administration will support casino gambling in the Bay State.

Hendricks, who will handle the council chairman's duties, said in a written statement: "During Glenn's absence, business for the tribe will continue. Next week, we will file an application to take land into trust in Mashpee and in Middleboro."

Dennis J. Whittlesey, of the Washington, D.C., firm of Dickin son Wright LLC, represented the town during negotiations with the tribe to site a casino in Middleboro. He said Marshall's past would not have stayed hidden even if the Cape Cod Times had not broken the story on Friday.

"Part of the process is a careful review of the gaming project with background investigations on peo ple in critical positions. They (the National Indian Gaming Commis sion) will know all about it and it will be a matter between the tribe and NIGC."

Asked his view of Marshall's past, Whittlesey said, "That's a matter between the tribe and the National Indian Gaming Commis sion ... It's nothing I can speak on. This is unique."

Richard Young, newly elected president of CasinoFacts.org, an anti-casino group, said he wants to know the tribe's deal with the de velopers and wants to see the fi nancial records.

"I'll never turn my back on any one in trouble," Young said, but added he is disturbed by Mar shall's "mistruths and misstate ments that represent who he is."

Middleboro Selectman Adam M. Bond said other prominent peo ple have also faced past misdeeds or embellished their military ser vice.

"We don't have to look that far in our state for people with crimi nal actions in their backgrounds or exaggerations of their military history," he said.

But Jacquie Tolosko, former chairman of the anti-casino group, said she is "deeply concerned the residents do not know who they are dealing with. I am very trou bled if someone has a past convic tion of a crime ... There certainly should be a certain amount of trust for both parties."

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